blogs.ubc.ca/bengeorge

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration agent

counting confiscated shark fins.

I recently read an article in The Economist about shark fin soup, a delicacy enjoyed my a majority of wealthy men and women in China. 

Animal conservationists around the world have banded together to put pressure on the Chinese government and force a shift in the cultural paradigm of shark fin soup consumption.

Celebrity support for this movement was provided by Yao Ming, a Chinese basketball player, and Sir Richard Branson, a British business star. With this practice gone, it is estimated that 70% of the cause for the depletion of our current various shark populations will be eliminated.

This ties into business ethics, a concept which is somewhat contradictory to the idea of business altogether. Although there is a huge market for Shark Fin Soup, if the demand for the delicacy were to drop, businesses will no longer have an incentive to provide it. It has been identified that older generations hold more value in this tradition, as opposed to younger generations, who believe it is outdated. This divide is one which needs to be addressed.

The Globe and Mail – Proposed ban on sale of shark fin soup reveals generational divide